Record change cycle mechanism for record players



RECORD CHANGE CYCLE MECHANISM FOR RECORD PLAYERS Original Filed Feb. 5,1964 R. L. VAN ANTWERP July 2, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EC f R w tomm m mw A M M m W w n@ k] NQ \HL IH R $93 QR E Q Mr/ i $2. m v 5 E QNQQNQ 5% g y 1963 R. VAN ANTWERP RECORD CHANGE CYCLE MECHANISM FORRECORD PLAYERS Original Filed Feb. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet z 7. m w n 4.m Q WW m a Z Y Q 0 K m ATTORN EY.

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July 2, 1968 3,390,883

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July 2, 1968 R. 1.. VAN ANTWERP RECORD CHANGE CYCLE MECHANISM FOR RECORDPLAYERS Original Filed Feb. 5. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENITOR. I R0150)Z. l onA/lin e/f BY ATTORNEI.

United States Patent 3,390,883 RECORD CHANGE CYCLE MECHANISM FOR RECGRDPLAYERS Robert L. Van Antwerp, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to Maestro(Iorporation, Stcvensville, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Continuationof application Ser. No. 342,765, Feb. 5, 1964. This application Aug. 26,1966, Ser. No. 584,292

16 Claims. (Cl. 274--) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A changer mechanismfor records having a friction drive for controlling tone arm movement.The friction drive comprises a first member rotatably fixed the tone armshaft and a second rotatable member frictionally engageable therewith,the second member having cam means thereon for lifting the tone arm offthe record surface and for clutchably engaging the tone arm for movingit radially outwardly to a position adjacent the edge of the record. Thefirst rotatable member controls and actuates a cyclic changer devicewhenever the tone arm reaches the radially innermost position of therecord, which mechanism in turn actuates the second rotatable member tofrictionally engage the first rotatable member for returning the tonearm to its original position. Continued movement of the changermechanism causes the tone arm to move radially inwardly whereby the tonearm cooperates with a manually actuated size selector mechanism forpositioning the tone arm on the edge of the next deposited record.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 342,765,filed Feb. 5, 1964.

This invention relates to improvements in record change cycle mechanismfor record players The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an automatic record changer which is of compactthickness or height and which incorporates yieldable, over-travelconnections between its elements so that the parts can be economicallymanufactured and assembled without holding the parts to closetolerances, and without sacrificing reliable operation of the changerassembly.

Second, to provide a record changer which returns the pickup arm gentlyto the surface of records of a preselected size in a minimum changecycle period and which permits manual movement of the pickup arm withoutactuating the change cycle mechanism.

Third, to provide a record changer change cycle mechanism having simpleinexpensive and light parts which have no critical wear points so thatthe mechanism is light, reliable and long lived.

Fourth, to provide a changer mechanism driven from a cyclically operatedgear which operates a lever to first raise and retract the pickup arm bya frictional drive, then eject or deposit a new record in playingposition and then return the pickup arm and pickup to playing positionby friction force and at a slow speed so that the engagement of thepickup with the record is accomplished gently and so that the recordejecting or placing cycle can be accomplished while the tone arm islocked in position, thus preventing damage to either the change cyclemechanism or the pickup arm if the pickup is accidentally left in lockedposition.

Fifth, to provide a record changer in which the advancing and loweringof the pickup arm is stopped in a preselected position according to thesize of record being played and in which the pickup arm stop isretracted after the pickup arm and pickup have been lowered into contactwith the record so that the pickup is accurately located on the recordwithout overtravel or objectionable oscillation.

Sixth, to provide a record changer mechanism which is engaged with itsdriving pinion by automatic or manual movement of the pickup arm to theend of the playing area of the record, or by manual operation of acontrol arm and finger piece that also turns the player on and off.

Seventh, to provide a multiple speed record changer with a drivedisengaging connection between the on-off switch and control lever and atable driving idler wheel so that the spring urging the idler wheel todriving posi-* tion does not tend to overcome the switch and turn theplayer on unintentionally, or require an excessively strong springbiasing the switch to off position.

Eighth, to provide a changer assembly in which the control arm foractuating the on-off switch has an interlock with the record support armthat permits the descent of the record support arm following the releaseof the last record to condition the changer and control arm to turn theplayer off after the playing of the last record with the pickup arm inraised and retracted position.

Ninth, to provide a record changer with a pickup arm pivot yieldablycoupled to the record tracking and cycle actuating mechanism of thechanger so that the cycling mechanism may operate without damage to itsparts even if the pickup arm is manually held or locked in place.

Tenth, to provide a record changer with a horizontal pivot andapproximately balanced position at about the playing level of the pickupfor accurate compliance with the surface of records being played, and asecond false pivot permitting the pickup arm to be raised to verticalposition for examination or repair of the pickup.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following descrip tion and claims. The drawings, ofwhich there are five sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the record changer with a largeportion of the turntable broken away in section to illustratesub-adjacent portions of the mechanism.

FIG. 2 is an inverted or bottom plan view of the structure shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the speedselecting mechanism appearing in the upper left hand corner of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of line 44 inFIG. 2, showing the changer in inverted position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view showing the structureappearing in the lower right hand corner of FIG. 2.

'FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 6-6 in FIG. 5, again showing the parts in inverted position,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the change cycledrive mechanism in the center of FIG. 1 with the turntable pinion incross section.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View taken along theplane of the line 8-8 in FIG. 2, again showing the structure in invertedposition.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 9-9 in FIG. 5 showing the parts in inverted position.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the same structure asFIG. 9 in another operative position corresponding to that assumed uponrelease of the last record on the machine.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 11]1 in FIG. 6 showing the pickup arm hinge from the top.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 12-12 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the automaticshut-ofi' mechanism at an intermediate position of its cycle ofoperation.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FIG. 13 showing themechanism in automatic shut-off position after playing the last record.

General arrangement The changer is assembled on a rectangular body panel1 having a downturned peripheral flange 2 and a central depressed wellwith a cylindrical side wall 3 and bottom 4. The bottom is ribbed at 5for stiffness and has a generally rectangular opening 6 within which themotor 7 is supported on a spider 8. The motor mount is more particularlydescribed and claimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 257,494,filed Feb. 11, 1963, now Patent No. 3,198,528 for Motor Mounting ForPhonographs. The arms of the spider are flexible to cushion and absorbtorsional vibration of the motor as it drives its stepped shaft 9. Theshaft has four steps 10 of different diameter corresponding to the fourstandard speeds of records 16, 33, 45 and 78 rpm. as shown on theindicator scale 11. The shaft drives an idler Wheel 12 by frictionalengagement between the periphery of the Wheel and one of the steps 10.The idler wheel in turn frictionally drives the turntable 13 byengagement with the inside of the downturned peripheral flange 14 on theturntable that nests and rotates within the well. The mechanism foradjusting the idler wheel and the turn table speed will be describedpresently.

The center of the bottom wall 4 of the well supports a hollow fixed post15 with a notch 16 on one side. The post receives the upwardlyprojecting record support spindle 17 and ejector lever 18. A lug on thespindle enters the notch 16 and holds the spindle against rota tion. Thelever 18 projects both upwardly and downwardly through a slot in theside of the spindle to a lower actuating end 19 projecting below thelower end of the spindle and below the bottom 4 of the Well in the bodypanel (see FIG. 5). The action of the ejector lever and the spindle insupporting and ejecting (releasing) successive records to be played ismore particularly disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. 1 o.246,242, filed Dec. 20, 1962 now abandoned for Record Supporting Spindleand Release Mechanism for Automatic Phonographs. The post 15 is retainedon the panel by having its lower end peened or rolled over a retainingplate 20 having a narrow car 21 turned upwardly through a hole 22 in thebottom 4 of the well to hold the post against rotation. A downturnedflange 23 has .a slot therethrough passing the loop 24 of a spring wire25. The other end of the wire is anchored in a tab 26 on the plate 20and the wire passes yieldably through an annular groove in the bottom ofthe spindle to releasably hold the spindle in place.

At its upper right corner (FIG. 1) the body panel 1 has a generallytriangular raised platform 27, conveniently made of plastic, securedthereto. The platform has an upstanding tubular journal 28, which may beintegrally molded with the platform, to rotatably and reciprocablysupport the record support and steady shaft 29. The shaft has the recordsupport arm 30 secured to its upper end that extends swingably radiallyinwardly over the turntable with a hooked end 31 angled around thespindle 17. At its lower end, the shaft 29 has a laterally turnedcontrol end 32 (see FIGS. 2, 5 and 10) for a purpose to be described.The support arm 30, 31 overlies a stack of records supported on thespindle and keeps the records fiat as is common. It also descends as therecords are released from the stack toward the top of the journal 28 tothat the end 32 functions when all records have been lowered to theturntalbe.

The platform 27 also has an elongated vertical boss 33 forming a journalfor the pickup arm support shaft 34. The shaft carries an upright yoke35 (see FIG. 11) with convergent side flanges 36 and 37 on its top and arearwardly offset upstanding anchor column 38. The main pickup arm pivotpin 39 is suported at one end in the flange 36 and slidably supported ina horizontal slot 49 in the flange 37 at approximately the level ofrecords being played on the turntable. A pickup arm support member 41has downturned cars 42 pivoted on the pin 39. Spring 43 positionedaround the pin biases the pin and the support member toward the side ofthe yoke having the slotted flange 37.

The support member 41 has an upwardly offset, forwardly projectingtongue 44 with plural holes 45 therein. A pickup arm balance spring hasone end anchored on the column 38 and its other end selectively hookedin one of the holes 45 to balance the weight of the pickup arm and biasthe support member and pivot pin 39 toward the rear of the slot 40 andapproximately over the vertical axis of the shaft 34. The shaft 34 ishollow and the Support member 41 has a hole 46 therein through which thelead wires 47 to the pickup extend. The yoke 35 has an upstanding flange48 with a screw 49 therein that adjustably abuts the pin 39 to locatethe rearward normal position of the pin over the shaft axis. The slottedengagement of the pivot pin with the yoke 35 permits the pickup arm tobe held or even looked without interfering with the change cycle of thechanger as will be described.

The pickup arm support member 41 projects rearwardly as at 50 toupstanding ears 51 that support a false or auxiliary pivot pin 52 aboveand askew to the main pivot pin 39. The pickup arm 53 is downwardlychambered or channel shaped and is pivoted on the pin 52. The arm swingshorizontally and vertically with the support member 41 and angles overthe turntable with the pickup cartridge 531 in its outer end. A screw 54on the tongue 44 adjustably supports and determines the downwardlyrotated position and level of the pickup arm on the support member 41.

A third boss 55 on the platform 27 reciprocably supports the pickup liftpin 56 that slirably engages the underside of the raised tongue 44 ofthe support member to tilt the support member 41 and the pickup armcarried thereby during the record changing cycle.

Speed change mechanism The idler wheel 12 is supported upon a stub shaft57. The shaft is mounted on the swing end of an arm 58 pivoted at 59 onan upright yoke 66. The yoke swings and reciprocates in a rectangularnotch 61 opening from the side of the motor opening 6 in the body plate.A stud 62 projecting above and below the bottom 4 rotatably and slidablysupports the upper arm 64 and lower arm 65 of the yoke. An upper ear 66(see FIG. 1) projects over the bottom 4 to limit downward movement ofthe yoke. An angled arm 67 projecting from the side of the yoke belowthe plate limits upward movement of the yoke, pivot 59 and idler wheel.(See FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 12 and note that FIGS. 2 and 12 are inverted.) Aspring 68 biases the yoke upwardly and laterally toward the motor shaft.

The laterally angled end of the arm 6'7 underlies a downwardlyprojecting flange 69 on the arcuate arm 70 of a speed selector lever 71.The lever is yieldably pivoted by the slot 72 surrounding the pin 73.Compression spring 74 biases the lever toward the idler wheel assembly.The notched edge 75 of a hole in the bottom plate 4 engages a lug 76struck from the lever to hold the lever in selected adjusted positionsas set manually by the finger piece 77 secured to a slide 78 thatprojects upwardly through the body plate 1. The slide is guided on asupport rod 79 mounted below the body plate and has a sliding engagementwith the forward end of the lever permitting longitudinal shifting ofthe lever over the notches 75. The end of the angled arm 67 alsoprojects into the path of n depending flange 80 on a crank 81. Theflange 80 has a finger 82 projected upwardly and over the edge of a hole83 to support the arm 84 of the crank along with the pivot screw 85.

The other arm 86 of the crank 81 has a cammed edge 87 lying in the pathof an upturned switch actuating ear 88 on the end of a switch actuatingpush bar or rod 89. The ear 88 projects between the bifurcated ends 90of the on-otf lever 91 of switch 92. The switch mounted on top of thebottom plate 4 is turned on by clockwise rotation of the cars 90 asviewed in FIG. 1. An car 93 on the on-off push rod overlies the plate 4and holds the push rod up. Movement of car 93 to off position actuatescrank 81 through cam edge 87 so that flange 80 moves arm 67 and yoke 60to disengage the idler. The mechanical advantage of ear 88 on cam 87prevents spring 68 from turning switch 92 back on.

As the finger piece 77 and lever 71 are moved to the right in FIGS. 1, 3and 12 toward faster speed of 45 rpm, the cammed edge 94, flange 69first pushes angled arm 67 counterclockwise or to the left as viewed inFIGS. 3 and 12. This rotates the yoke 60 away from the motor anddisengages idler wheel 12 from one step on the shaft 9. It also lowersthe arm 67 and the yoke so that as the arm 67 clears the cammed edges94, the spring 68 returns the yoke and idler wheel into drivingengagement with the next larger and higher speed step on shaft 9.Reverse actuation of the speed selector lever 71 merely lets the arm 67and yoke 60 ride up to position the idler wheel against the smallerslower speed steps on the motor shaft.

On-ofi reject control The finger piece 95 operates a slide 96 (see FIG.2) on the support rod 97 that is laterally drivingly engaged with theon-off lever 98. The lever is fixedly pivoted at 99. The on-off push rodhas an upwardly offset right end 100 overlying the lever 98 and coupledthereto by the pin 101 projecting through the slot 102 in the end of thepush rod. The push rod is biased toward switchoff position by a lightspring 103. Moving the lever 98 and push rod 89 to the right moves car88 and switch lever 91 to o position. The switch 92 is connected to aterminal jack 104 and may include wires for controlling an amplifier aswell as the motor 7. Reverse movement to the on position of push rod 89to on position turns on the switch and also moves the bifurcated ends 90of the switch lever so that the push rod and lug or car 88 may be movedfurther to reject position as will be described.

Automatic change mechanism The turntable 13 has a hub 105 on itsunderside that rotates around the fixed post on suitable bearings (notillustrated). On its lower end, the hub 105 has continuous pinion teeth106 that rotate continually whenever the turntable rotates. Above theteeth 106, the hub has a change cycle engaging lug 107 that projectsradially from the hub and also rotates therewith. (See FIG. 7).Rotatably mounted on top of the bottom plate 4 is a change cycle gear108 having an axle support 109 and teeth 110 located in the plane of theteeth 106 on the pinion hub. The teeth 110 areinterrupted at 111 andthis interrupted portion 111 is always opposite the teeth 106 when themechanism is in record playing position as illustrated so the changecycle gear does not rotate. The gear 108 carries an upstanding crank pin112 operating in a slot 113 in an actuator arm 114. The arm 114 isconnected to and oscillatably drives a shaft 115 extending through abearing 116 to an actuator lever 117 located on the bottom of the bottomplate 4. Pivoted on the shaft 115 below (on top as viewed in FIGS. 2, 5and 8) the actuator lever is a cam arm 118. The actuator lever isdirectly connected to ejector link 119 by a pin 120 but is not directlyconnected to the cam arm. A slot 121 in the cam arm permits the actuatorlever, pin 120 and ejector link to move a limited distance relative tothe cam arm. However, a hook 122 on the actuator lever is connected to ahook 123 on the cam arm by a relatively stitf tension spring 124 so thecam arm moves counterclockwise in FIG. 5 with the actuator lever.

The cam arm as appears in FIGS. 5 and 6 projects laterally anddownwardly at 125 to a sector shaped end 126 guided between lugs 127 onthe bearing 34. The sector end carries a depending bushing 128 thatguides a pin 129. The sector end also carries a leaf spring 130 with afriction pad 131 on its lower end. When the sector end 126 is rotatedcounterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5 or to the left in FIGS. 9 and 10, thepin 129 rides down on a cam shelf 132 struck down from the main bodyplate 1. This lowers the spring leaf and friction pad 131 intofrictional driving contact with an index plate 133 mounted on androtatable with the lower end of the pickup arm support shaft 34. Whenthe sector end 126 and cam arm 118 are in unactuated position as inFIGS. 5 and 9, the pin 129 is down and the index plate 133 rotatesfreely with the pickup arm.

The sector shaped end 126 also carries a downwardly off set cam ear 134on its back edge that engages and actuates the lower end of the pickuparm lift pin 56 upon oscillation of the cam arm 118. Oscillation of thecam arm 118 and its sector end 126 thus functions to both oscillate theindex plate to swing the pickup arm in and out and to reciprocate thepin 56 to raise and lower the pickup arm at the proper time.

Record size selector The finger piece 135 on top of the body panel movesa slide 136 on the rod 97 to swing the forward end of the size selectorlever 137. The lever slides on the pivot pin 138 passed through a slot139 and has a pin 140 on its rear (lower end in FIG. 5) selectivelyengageable in one of three notches 141 in the lower arm 142 of a crank143. The arm is angled upwardly through a slot 144 and pivoted at 145alongside of the change cycle gear 108. The opposite ar-m 146 of thecrank partially underlies the change cycle gear and has a detent notch147 (see FIG. 7) engageable with a depending pin 148 on the gear in theat rest position of the gear. A spring 149 biases the upper arm 146 ofthe crank away from the change cycle gear. A downturned segmentalarcuate flange 150 on the gear obstructs and limits clockwise rotationof crank 146 during the first part of the rotational cycle of the gearafter a momentary counterclockwise movement as the pin 148 moves out ofthe detent notch 147.

Change cycle initiating The change cycle gear is started on a cycle by atrip pawl 151 pivotally supported by a pin 152 near the rim of thechange cycle gear and ahead of the gap 111 in the gear teeth. The trippawl overlies and frictionally engages a trip lever 153, also pivoted onthe pin 152. The lever 153 has a downturned flange 154 that hangsthrough an opening 155 in the cycle gear. It also has an upturned ear156 positioned in a peripheral notch 157 in the trip pawl. An upturnedcar 158 on the gear is positioned in the same notch to limit movement ofthe trip pawl on the gear. An outwardly projecting raised flange on thetrip pawl has a radially extending abutment edge 159 while the lowertrip lever has a radially outwardly projected disconnect nose 160positioned angularly in advance of the edge 159. The downturned flange154 projects into the path of the end 161 on a trip wire 162. The wireis connected to the index plate 133 and extends under the cam arm 118,bends upwardly over the ejector link 119 at 163 and again upwardlythrough a slot 164 in the bottom panel to oppose the flange 154 on thetrip lever 153.

The flange 154 on the trip lever is also in the path of a finger 165bent upwardly and laterally through the hole 166 from an arm 167 on theswitch actuating bar 89. Thus either movement of the trip wire 162 bythe index plate under the influence of the pickup arm reaching the innerend of the playing area of a record, or

movement of the on-off lever 8 and switch actuating bar 89 to rejectposition can move the trip lever outwardly of the cycle gear. The car156 in turn moves the trip pawl 151 outwardly until the edge 159 is inthe path of the drive pawl 197 on the turntable hub and on the nextrevolution of the hub the pawl picks up the trip pawl and rotates thechange cycle gear until the teeth on the pinion engage the teeth on thegear. The gear then makes a complete revolution driving the change cyclemechanism and also incidentally moving the trip lever and its flange 154out of registry with the trip wire 162 and the pawl on the switchactuating bar. Note that movement of switch actuating bar to rejectposition does not turn off the switch 92 and that the spring 103 returnsthe switch actuating bar to switch on position automatically. When thechange cycle gear 108 nears the completion of its rotational cycle, theprojecting nose 1 543 On the trip lever 153 strikes the pinion teeth 105and is moved radially inwardly on the change gear. The car 156 moves thetrip pawl inwardly so the gear stops when the interruption 111 in itsteeth registers with the pinion.

Record size and last record interlock Mounted on the bottom of the bodyplate 1 adjacent the pickup arm shaft is a depending support plate 163.This carries the electrical terminal board 169 for the wires 47 from thepickup and also defines a vertical slot 170 guiding the laterally turnedlower end 32 of the record support post 29 in all but the fully raisedposition of the record support arm. The plate has a pivot 171 for acrank 172 with a flange 173 lying in the path of the end 32 on therecord arm support post. An angled flange 174 on the plate 168 has apivot support 175 for a record size setting crank 176.

The other arm 177 of crank 172 is angled through a hole 178 in the plateinto the plane of the lower arm 179 of crank 176 and the two arms areconnected by a light tension spring 181 The upper arm 181 of crank 176has a hooked end 182 engageable with a trailing edge 183 on asector-like projection 184 on the index plate. Lowering of the recordsupport arm post 29 to the bottom of its travel engages its end 32 withthe flange 173 to rotate the crank 176 through spring and engage thehook 182 with trailing edge 183 of the index plate in blocking relationto pickup arm advancing motion of the index plate. With the recordsupport arm post 29 raised, the crank 176 and its hook 182 are loweredby a wire link 185 connected to the switch actuating cross bar 89. Thisbar is biased forwardly by the spring 1'93 to disengage the hook 182.

A rearwardly projecting arm 186 on the bar 89 has an upstanding ear 187that extends through a hole 188 in the bottom plate adjacent the end ofcrank arm 146. As previously noted, this crank is biased by the spring149 and has its opposite end 142 er; ended down through the plate to thenotched slot in which the pin 14%} rides. Three notches 141 selectivelyengage the pin according to the setting of the record size selectorlever 137 and the pin is urged into one of the notches 141 by the spring189. Spring 189 acting through pin 140 biases the arm 142 and crank 143oppositely from spring 149. Spring 189 is stronger when fully extendedthan spring 149 so spring 189 controls until pin 143 or flange 159 onthe cycle gear move the crank 146 counterclockwise in FIG. 1. An angularnose 199 on the front end of lever 146 opposes the car 187 on the arm186 of the switch operating cross bar 89. A laterally flexible leafspring 191 is mounted on the lever 14-5 in spaced relation to the nose190.

Cycle of operation Assuming one record playing on the turntable andsecond and third records of like size and speed on the spindie, theparts will be as shown, excepting FIGS. 10, 13 and 14. As the pickup armfollows the record groove into the center of the record, index plate 133rotates with the pickup arm support shaft counterclockwise as viewed inFIGS. 2 and 5. Wire 162 and its end 161 approach the car 154 on the triplever 153 and move it outwardly of the change cycle gear 168. The trippawl 151 follows by friction but the flat side 1559A is struck by therotating drive pawl 197 returning the trip pawl until the more rapidmovement of the pickup and pickup arm in the spiral run out groove ofthe record moves both the lever and pawl outwardly so that the pawlstrikes the edge 159 and rotates the gear 168 until teeth 16:? mesh withthe gear. The change gear than rotates swinging the actuator arm 114,shaft 115, actuator lever 117 and ejector link 119.

Acting through stiff spring 124, the lever 117 also immediately movescam arm 113 and its upturned end carrying pin 129 and cam flange 134.Cam flange immediately raises pin 56 lifting the pickup arm off of therecord. Next, pin 129 raises on cam surface 132 engaging the frictionpad 131 with index plate 133 to retract the pickup arm and the trip wire162. The ejector link 119 moves with pin 12% toward the record ejectoror release lever 13 in the spindle. The link is slotted at 119A andsupported in a groove 192A in post 192 while a leaf spring 193 supportsthe lower end 19 of the ejector lever. The travel of link 119 necessaryto release a record is such that the pickup arm will be raised andangularly retracted before the second or bottom record on the spindle isreleased. This action takes place in less than one half of therevolution of the change cycle gear 108 as the pin 112 movescounterclockwise in FIGS. 1 and 7 past shaft 115. Note that actuator arm114 and lever 117 can overtravel index plate 133 due to the frictiondrive by pad 131.

On the underside of the panel, spring 189 anchored on the pivot pin 138and connected to the pin 140 on on the size selector lever 137 tends tomove the selector lever forwardly and at the same time rotate the arm142 of lever 146 counterclockwise in FIGS. 2 and 5. This motion isinitially opposed by engagement of the edge of the lever 146 above thepanel with the downturned flange 150 on the change cycle gear (see FIG.7). As the flange 150 passes lever 146, the lower arm 142 and pin 140move counterclockwise into the path of the corresponding record sizenotch 183A on the index plate 133. The extent of movement of lever 146is limited by engagement with fixed pin 138 in the rear end of slot 139in the size so lector lever 137 and angular rotation of the lever 14 3under the influence of spring 149 so that pin 140 is lo cated accordingto the selected record size determining notch 141 in which it is held.As the edge 194 on cam plate 118 strikes pin 138 thus stopping rotationof friction pad 131 and pickup arm retracting motion of index plate 133,actuator arm 117 and pin 120 continue to advance with the pin moving inslot 121 to actuate record ejector lever 119 with the pickup arm fullyraised and retracted.

Continued rotation of cycle gear pin 112 reverses oscillation of shaft115 and actuator arm 117. This first retracts pin 129 and ejector bar119. As further retraction releases the tension created in spring 124and pin 12% reaches the other end of slot 121, the cam arm 118 is alsoretracted and the friction drive of pad 131 starts retraction of indexplate 133. This swings the pickup arm in until the selected record sizenotch 1S3 strikes the advanced pin 140 stopping the pickup correctlyover the edge of the second record. Cam arm 1118 continues to retractlowering pickup arm support pin 56 along cam flange 134 till the pickupis located gently on the record. The pin 148 on the change cycle gearthen gradually advances lever 146 and retracts pin 140 from the notches.183 so that the index plate and pickup arm are free to rotate inplaying motion on the record.

When the second record finishes playing the same ejector cycle isfollowed except that as the third and last record falls to theturntable, the record support rod 29 and its lower arm 32 drop to engageflange 173 of crank 172. Acting through spring 184} this tends to pullwire 185 and switch control bar rearwardly against spring 103 on pin andslot connection 101-102 to the on-off lever 98. However, at the timerecord ejector bar 19 in the spindle is actuated and rod 29 falls, lever146 has retracted behind flange 150 as shown in FIG. 13 and flange 195on leaf spring 191 blocks rearward movement of ear 187 (see FIG. 13).Flange 195 projects slightly rearwardly of abutment 190 so when arm 146advances with lever 142, flange 187 is still opposed. The change cyclegear continues its cycle and the last or third record plays to the end.

When the trip pawl 151 is actuated at the end of the last record, thechange cycle gear cycles as before to raise and retract the pickup armbut when the abutment 190 on lever 146 retracts as the lever movesbeyond flange 150, the spring loaded switch bar 89, arm 186 and ear 187slide rearwardly into the path of the edge of the flange 195. The leafspring 191 yields permitting continued retracting clockwise rotation ofdouble arm crank 142-146 until cycle gear 108 completes its cycle andpin 148 rotates lever 146 counterclockwise. (See dotted position FIG.14.) This causes abutment 190 to move ear 187, arm 186 and bar 89 to theright to off" position at which time car 88 at the left end of the barturns switch 92 off. The engagement of the hook 182, held up by spring180 and crank 172, with edge 183 of sector plate 184 will have preventedadvance of the index plate 133 so the pickup arm remains retracted. Whenabutment 190 moves ear 187 and switch bar 89 to the right or offposition, spring 103 returns bar 89 forwardly on the pin and slotconnection 101, 102 so the on-off bar 89 and ear 187 reassume normalposition. The on-otf control may be manually returned to reject positionto replay the last record but the mechanism will remain in automaticshut-ofl' condition until the record holding arm and post are elevatedto put more or different records on the spindle.

The record hold-down arm and its support rod 29 can be raised until theangled end 32 is above the slot 198 in the body plate 1 where it can berotated under the platform 27 to remove records from the turntable andplace a new stack of records on the spindle 16. On restarting thechanger by turning the switch on, the player may be started by manuallyplacing a first record on the turntable and placing the pickup on therecord, or by moving the pickup arm to the spindle or by moving fingerpiece 95 to reject position to start the changer on the first changecycle to drop the first record of a new series of cycles.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a record player having a motor driven turntable, a recordsupporting spindle with an ejector lever arranged to eject the lowerrecord of a stack to said turntable, a record holding ar-m swingably andreciprocably mounted to overlie a stack of records on said spindle and ahorizontally and vertically swingable pickup arm supported alongisde ofsaid turntable, record changing mechanism comprising:

a hub and pinion on said with;

a support panel supporting said spindle and turntable;

a switch mounted on said panel with an operating arm and connected toenergize the motor of the turntable;

a control arm movably mounted on said panel and having a finger piececonnected to one of its ends and movable from off to on to rejectpositions;

a switch operating bar operatively connecting said control arm and saidswitch operating arm;

a change cycle gear rotatably mounted on said panel and having teethengageable with the pinion on said turntable;

a segment of untoothed edge along the periphery of turntable and driventheresaid gear opposed to said pinion in the starting position of saidgear;

trip means mounted near the periphery of said gear and movable outwardlyof the gear and engageable with a ing projecting from the hub on saidturntable to move said gear to engage the gear with said pinion;

an actuator device connected to be oscillated by rotation of said gear;

an ejector link connected to said actuator device with one end opposedto the end of the ejector lever in said spindle to eject a record ontosaid turntable near the maximum throw of said actuator device;

a lift pin reciprocably mounted on said panel and and verticallyengageable with said pickup arm;

lift means on said actuator device engageable with said lift pin uponinitial and all advancing oscillation of said actuator device to liftsaid pin and said pickup arm;

an index plate rotatably drivingly connected to said pickup arm;

means on a swinging portion of said actuator device frictionally androtatably drivingly engageable with said index plate to retract saidplate in trailing relation to actuation of said lift pin;

a link having one end connected to a rotatable portion of said indexplate with its other end positioned to actuate said trip means to engagesaid trip means with the lug on said hub;

a record sizing sector on said index plate having a sizing portioncorresponding to the size of records to be played;

a first crank pivoted on said panel adjacent said gear and having onecrank portion disposed in lapped relation relation to said gear andanother crank portion extending to adjacent said sizing portion on saidindex plate;

a record sizing element movable with said other crank portion of saidfirst crank and engageable with said sizing portion on said sizingsector;

detent means on said gear and said first crank which are engageable inthe starting position of said gear;

a vertical support post for the record holding arm;

first shut-off means movably mounted on said panel and connected to saidswitch operatingbar;

means on said first shut-off means engageable with said support post inthe fully lowered position of said record holding arm to move saidswitch operating bar on its moveable connection to said control arm andtoward said one portion on said first crank;

second shut-off means on said panel having a portion connected by aspring to said first shut-off means;

a second portion on said second shut-off means movable under theinfluence of said first-off means and said support post into blockingrelation in the advancing path of said sizing sector;

a shut-off portion on said switch operating bar projecting to adjacentthe end of the other crank portion on said first crank and opposedthereto in the advanced position of said first crank and the on andreject positions of said switch operating bar;

a second shut-off portion on said other crank portion of said firstcrank cooperable with said first shut-off portion;

means for opposing movement of said shut-off portions On one retractingmotion of the first crank and yieldable on a succeeding advance of saidfirst crank to permit movement of said shut-off portions; and

said switch operating bar and the shut-oft" portion thereon being springbiased away from said first crank.

2. In a record player having a motor driven turntable, a recordsupporting spindle with an ejector lever arranged to eject the lowerrecord of a stack to said turntable, a record holding arm swingably andreciprocably mounted a pinion on said turntable and driven therewith;

a support panel supporting said spindle and turntable; a switch mountedon said panel with an operating arm and connected to energize the motorof the turntable;

first control arm fixedly pivoted to said panel and having a fingerpiece connected to its swinging end movable from off to on to rejectpositions;

switch operating bar extending transversely of said panel and having alaterally fixed longitudinally movable connection relative to said firstcontrol arm and engageable with said switch arm;

change cycle gear rotatably mounted on said panel and having teethengageable with the pinion on said turntable;

a segment of untoothed edge along the periphery of said gear opposed tosaid pinion in the starting position of said gear;

means including a trip pawl pivoted near the periphery of said gearswingable outwardly of the gear and engageable with a lug projectingfrom the hub on said turntable to move said gear to engage the gear withsaid pinion;

an car on said switch operating bar having a frictional drivingconnection with said trip pawl and movable with said switch operatingbar and said first control arm to reject position to move said trip pawlto engage the pawl on said hub;

an actuator arm pivoted on said panel and connected to be oscillated bysaid gear from one extreme in the starting position of the gear;

an actuator lever connected to be oscillated by said actuator arm;

an ejector link connected to said actuator lever with one end opposed tothe end of the ejector lever in said spindle to eject a record onto saidturntable near the maximum throw of said actuator lever;

a cam arm pivotally mounted adjacent said actuator lever and having alost-motion connection to said actuator lever and ejector lever;

a spring rotatably drivingly connecting said actuator lever to said camarm in the advancing direction of said actuator lever;

a lift pin reciprocably mounted on said panel and vertically engageablewith said pickup arm;

a first cam on said cam arm engageable with said lift pin upon initialand all advancing oscillation of said cam arm to lift said pin and saidpickup arm;

an index plate rotatably drivingly connected to said pickup arm;

means on a swinging portion of said cam arm frictionally and rotatablydrivingly engageable with said index plate to retract said plate intrailing relation to actuation of said lift pin;

link wire having one end connected to a rotatable portion of said indexplate with its other end having a frictional driving connection to saidtrip pawl to engage said trip pawl with the pawl on said hub;

a record sizing sector on said index plate having an edge correspondingto the size of records to be played;

a double arm crank pivoted on said panel adjacent said gear and havingone lever arm disposed in lapped relation to said gear and an otherlever arm extending to adjacent said edge on said index plate;

a record sizing pin movable with said lever arm of said double arm crankand engageable with said edge on said sizing sector;

a cam surface on said one lever arm having a detent notch therein;

a projection on said gear engageable in said dctent notch in. thestarting position of said gear;

iii

a cam on said gear behind said projection and engageable with said camsurface on said double arm crank as said projection leaves said detentnotch to advance and hold said other lever arm and said sizing pin awayfrom said edge on said sizing sector through initial rotation of saidgear;

a fixed support on said panel adjacent said sizing sector and defining avertical guide slot;

a vertical support post for the record holding arm having a laterallyturned lower end non-rotatably engaged in said guide slot in all but thefully raised position of said support post;

first shut-01f crank pivoted on said panel and connected to said switchoperating bar;

a projection on said first shut-oft crank engageable with said supportbar in the fully lowered position of said record holding arm to movesaid switch operating bar on its movable connection to said firstcontrol arm and toward said one lever arm on said double arm crank;

21 second shut-01f crank on said panel having one arm connected by aspring to said first shut-otf crank;

a portion on said second shut-off crank movable under the influence ofsaid first crank and said support bar into blocking relation in theadvancing path of said sizing sector;

a shut-otf portion on said switch operating bar projecting to adjacentthe end of the other lever arm on said double arm crank and opposedthereto in the advanced position of said double crank and the on andreject positions of said switch operating bar; second shut-off portionon said other lever arm of said double arm crank cooperable with saidfirst shutoif portion;

a leaf spring angularly springably mounted on one of said shut-offportions with its end spaced therefrom;

a blocking flange on said leaf spring projecting in opposed relationbeyond said one shut-otf portion to oppose movement of said shut-01fportions into overlapping relation on one retracting motion of thedouble arm crank and laterally engageable and yieldable with said oneshut-off portion on a succeeding advance of said double arm crank topermit movement of said shut-off portions into lapped engagement; and

said switch operating bar and the shut-01f portion thereon being springbiased away from said double armed crank to space said shut-off portionsuntil acted upon by said first shut-off crank and said record holderpost.

3. A record player according to claim 2, including a second control armon said panel and having a finger piece connected to its swinging endselectively movable to different record size positions, means forming asliding and pivot connection between said panel and said second controlarm intermediate of the ends of the arm, said sizing pin being mountedon the opposite end of said second control arm, a first tension springbiasing said second control arm and sizing pin toward one end of saidsliding and pivot connection of the arm, said record sizing sectorhaving notches corresponding to the sizes of records to be played, andrecord size notches formed in said other arm of said double arm cranksselectively engageable with said sizing pin.

4. A record player according to claim 2, including a trip lever pivotedin frictional lapped relation to said trip pawl on said gear and havingan ear depending below said gear and means including an car on one ofsaid trip elements engageable in an oversized notch in the other tripelement forming a lost-motion rotary connection between the two tripelements.

5. A record player according to claim 2, including a second pinvertically reciprocably mounted on said cam arm and extendingtherethrough, a second cam on said panel in the path of said second pinand angularly displaced from the starting position of said first cam toadvance said second pin after said first pin has raised said pickup arm,the means frictionally and drivingly engageable with said index plateincludes a spring arm carried on a swinging portion of cam arm andextending across the path of said second pin to be deflected downwardlythereby and having a friction pad frictionally and rotatably drivinglyengageable with said index plate to angularly retract said index plateand said pickup arm upon advancing motion of cam arm and vice versa.

6. In an automatic record changer and player having a vertically andlaterally swingable pickup arm and a motor driven turntable with astationary record supporting spindle projecting above and below theturntable;

an ejecting element mounted within said spindle and projecting below theturntable; a change cycle gear; cycle starting means arranged to engagesaid gear with said turntable for one rotational cycle of the gear;

an indexing element connected to and oscillatably driven by horizontalmovement of said pickup arm and having record sizing projections spacedangularly therearound;

said cycle starting means being connected to said indexing element to beactuated thereby;

an actuator element oscillatably driven between two extremes by saidgear;

an ejector operating member arranged to engage and operate said ejectingelement by and during a portion of the travel of said actuator element;

a manually adjustable size selecting element;

a crank member adjacent said gear;

means forming plural adjacent interengaging detent positions betweensaid crank member and said size selecting element selectively engageableby adjustment of the selecting element and movable in selective arcsabout the pivot of said crank into the paths of said sizing projections;

first means positively drivingly connectible between said actuatorelement and said pickup arm to raise said pickup arm upon initialadvancing motion of said actuator element;

second means forming a frictional driving engagement between saidactuator element and said index element and operative after saidpositively driving means has raised said pickup arm;

cam means engageable between said cycle gear and said crank memberarranged to hold said crank member in a retracted position as said geardrives said actuator element through its advancing motion and as thegear completes a change cycle rotation; and

resilient means connected to advance said crank member when the cammeans releases the crank member. 7. An automatic record changer andplayer according to claim 6, in which said ejecting element is a leverpivoted within said spindle;

said indexing element is a plate having an oscillating record sizingsector thereon and said record sizing projections are provided by stopson said sector;

said size selecting element is a lever which is mounted for pivotal andsliding movement relative to said actuator clement;

said crank member has a fixed pivot support; and

said first and second means comprise cam means.

3. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 7,including a record support arm having a vertically reciprocablesupporting post on one end;

a stop crank pivotally supported on said changer;

said stop crank being biased to inactive position and having a drivingengagement with said post to move the crank to activated position in thefully lowered position of the post and record support arm;

a projection movable into blocking relation to advancing motion of saidindex plate when said stop crank is activated;

a switch electrically connected to energize the motor of said turntableand having an operating lever;

an on-oif lever pivotally mounted on said changer and having a manualoperating hand piece;

a switch bar reciprocably mounted on said changer and engageable withthe lever of said switch;

a pivot connection between said switch bar and an intermediate portionof said on-otf lever reciprocably drivingly engageable with the switchbar and longitudinally stideable relative to said on-ofi lever;

a spring biasing said last pivotal connection to one end of itsslideable connection;

a link connected between said switch bar and said stop crank to displacethe switch bar on the sliding connection thereof toward said crankmember upon activation of said stop crank;

coacting abutments on a swinging portion of said crank member and saidswitch bar engageable in the displaced position of the switch bar andthe advanced position of said crank member;

a yieldable blocking element carried by one abutment preventingengagement of said abutments in the advanced position of said crankmember and upon the first retraction of said crank member afteractuation of said stop crank; and

blocking element being yiel-dable upon the succeeding advance of saidcrank member by engagement with the other of said abutments permittingadvance of the abutment on said crank member without movement of saidswitch bar and permitting engagement of said abutments upon thefollowing retraction of said crank member to move the other abutment andswitch bar to switch off position.

9. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 8,including a second stop crank, spring means drivingly connecting saidfirst and second stop cranks to actuate said second crank from saidfirst crank, said projection for blocking advancing motion of said indexplate being mounted on said second stop crank.

10. In an automatic record changer and player having a vertically andlaterally swingable pickup arm and a motor driven turntable with astationary record centering spindle projecting above the turntable, thecombination comprising:

an ejector member movably mounted Within said spindle and having anejector portion positioned in spaced relation above the turntable toeject the bottom record of a stack of records supported on said spindleand having an actuating portion exposed on said spindle below saidturntable;

a change cycle actuating member movably supported adjacent saidturntable;

cycle starting means arranged to drivingly couple said actuating memberwith the motor of said turntable for a single cycle of motion of theactuating member;

an indexing element connected to and swingable with said pickup arm;

means actuated by movement of said indexing element and said pickup armto radially inwardly advanced position of the pickup arm to engage saidcycle starting means to thereby actuate said actuating member;

an ejector operating member for engaging and actuating said ejectormember during the advance of the actuating member;

lift means actuated upon advancing motion of said actu ating member andall further advanced positions thereof arranged to lift said pickup armaway from said turntable; and

an index drive member driven by said actuating member and movable intodriving engagement with said index element.

11. In an automatic record changer and player having a vertically andlaterally swingable pickup arm and a 1 5 motor driven turntable with astationary record centering spindle projection above the turntable;

an ejector member movably mounted within said spindle and having anejector portion positioned in spaced relation above the turntable toeject the bottom rec- 0rd of a stack of records supported on saidspindle and having an actuating portion exposed on said spindle belowsaid turntable;

a change cycle actuating member oscillatably supported adjacent saidturntable;

cycle starting means arranged to drivingly engage said actuating memberwith the motor of said turntable for a single oscillation of advancingand retracting motion of the actuating member,

an indexing element connected to and oscillatable horizontally with saidpickup arm;

means actuated by movement of said indexing element and pickup arm toradially inwardly advanced posi tion of the pickup arm to actuate saidactuating member and engage said cycle starting means;

an ejector-operator member connected to said actuating member andmovable therewith to engage and actuate said ejector member during theadvance of the actuating member;

first means actuated upon advancing motion of said actuating member andall further advanced positions thereof arranged to lift said pickup armaway from said turntable;

an index drive member carried by said actuating member and movablerelative thereto into two-way driving engagement with said indexingelement after initial advance of said actuating member; record sizeselecting means including a size selecting member and a movableoperating member engageable therewith in different selected and adjustedpositions relative to said operating member;

adjustable stop means including portions mounted on and engageablebetween said indexing element and said size selecting member, said stopmeans being adjustable to vary the relative positions between saidindexing element and said size selecting member by positioning said sizeselecting member in a dilferent selected position relative to saidoperating member; and

means operative upon oscillation of said actuating member to move saidmovable operating member and said size selecting member and the portionof said stop means connected thereto to retracted position duringadvancing motion of said change cycle actuating member and to advanceand retract said size selecting member during retraction of theactuating member.

12. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 11, inwhich said stop means includes plural coacting stops which areengageable between said indexing element and said size selecting memberin different advancing positions of said indexing element and advancedpositions of said operating member.

13. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 11 whereinsaid size selecting member is movably supported adjacent the indexingelement and said operating member is movably supported adjacent saidactuating member, said stop means including means forming pluraladjacent interengaging detent portions selectively engageable betweenmovable portions of said operating member and said size selecting memberengageable by adjustment of the selecting member and movable indifferent selected paths determined by the point of engagementtherebetween, means arranged to adjust said size selecting member todifferent detent positions, said indexing element and said sizeselecting member having plural adjacent interengaging stop portionsengageable in different positions upon advancing motion of said indexingelement and an advance position of said operating member anddisengageable upon retracting motion of said operating member, and othercam means engageable between said actuating member and said operatingmember arranged to advance the interengaging portions of said sizeselecting member and operating member after said index drive member hasretracted said indexing element.

14. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 13, inwhich said size selecting member is a lever pivotally supported adjacentthe indexing plate and the operating member is a crank pivotallysupported adjacent the actuating member and spring means biasing saidcrank member to adjusted position against said other cam means.

15. In an automatic record changer and playing having a vertically andlaterally swingable pickup arm and a motor driven turntable, thecombination comprising:

a change cycle actuating member movably supported adjacent saidturntable;

cycle starting means arranged to drivingly couple said acutating memberwith the motor of the turntable for a single record-changing cycle ofmovement of said actuating member;

an indexing element connected to and swingable with said pickup arm;

means responsive to radially inward movement of said pickup arm and saidindexing element to operate said cycle starting means and thereby startthe recordchanging cycle of movement of said actuating member;

lift means to lift the pickup arm away from the turntable; and

said indexing element and said actuating member having coupled theretocooperating slippable clutch parts and means for moving said clutchparts into driving engagement with each other to move said pickup armoutwardly during the record-changing cycle.

16. An automatic record changer and player according to claim 15, inwhich the indexing element has a flat surface forming one of said clutchparts and said actuating member has a friction pad mounted thereon andmovable into frictional engagement with said surface to provide atwo-way friction drive between said indexing element and said actuatingmember during a portion of the recordchanging cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,394,539 2/1946 Erwood et al274-10 2,584,257 2/1952 Cain 2741 0 2,795,429 6/1957 Vistain 274-1O3,218,078 11/1965 Freier 27410 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner.

